However, WSWS reports that workers are far from happy with the deal, since it has seen no agreement from the company to withdraw its demands. "Negotiations continue," but whilst they do the situation still looks an awful lot like a loss.

Strikes in Chilean mines strengthen workers'
struggles throughout the copper industry, and reflect growing political
unrest in Chile.

2,300 miners at Chile's Escondida copper mine - the largest in the
world - have been out on strike since 22nd July, and were joined by
7,000 contractors on 27th July. The mine is privately owned by
Australian firm BHP.

Workers at Escondida are demanding a rise in monthly production
bonuses, and initially aimed for $11,ooo per worker to be paid out by
the end of the year. BHP have declared the strike illegal, as bonuses
are discretionary and fall outside the collective contract and strict
anti-labour laws in Chile prevent workers from striking outside of the
collective negotiating agreement. The union rejected BHP's offer of
$6,000, which has since been lowered to $5,600 per worker. The strike
continued, with the union lowering it's demand to $8,700, but BHP are
now refused to negotiate while workers are still downing tools. Today,
the union has put the $5,600 offer out to be voted on, and if accepted
by the workers, the strike will be over. The union is also demanding
protection for workers who contract work-related illnesses, removal of
surveillance cameras throughout the mine, and improved punch-clocks
which monitor their 12 hour shifts.

The Escondida strike is yet another case of workers' struggle
throughout the mining industry in Chile and the rest of the world, as
workers are demanding their share of record profits. Workers in Zambia
and Indonesia have also been striking against private firms such as
Anglo-American and Freeport McMoran.

Industry bosses are keen to bring an end to the Escondida strike as
they fear a success for the workers here could fuel further strikes
across Chile. At another major Chilean copper mine, Collahuasi, workers
staged a 24hr stoppage over the weekend in protest against anti-union
measures, pressure being placed on workers, and bosses attempts to
negotiate with workers outside of the collective union contract.
Collahuasi workers have previously held a 33-day strike in December
2010.

The state-run Coldeco mines have also seen their first walk-outs in
over 20 years, prompting the increasingly unpopular President Pinera to
meet with union leaders and assure them that Coldeco will not be
privatised. Previous strikes at Coldeco
saw sub-contractors demanding improved conditions. Signs outside the
Escondida mine are calling for the mining industry to be
re-nationalised.

The miners strikes form part of a wave of growing unrest in Chile, as
students and environmentalists have also been protesting against the
right wing Pinera government.

There is no doubt much and more that I've left out of this month's update. However, with the English riots forcing everything else into the background, it was worth focusing on the other key struggles that the media has lavished little attention on. The class war is flaring up for a number of reasons all across the globe, and it is now more vital than ever that we pay attention to the ones that cause the most ripples. We have as much to learn from the defeats and sell-outs as from the victories.